Florida Wild Horse and Burro Association meets Long Rider at the State Capitol.
Gwilda Byrd, Tim Trott

His card reads "48 State Capitols & 20,000 miles on Horseback". His goal: riding on horseback to all 48 contiguous state capitals. . On Wednesday, January 7th Gene Glasscock reached Tallahassee, the capital of sunny Florida, and the 25th capital on the list, escorted by local riders and representatives of the Florida Office of Greenways and Trails. At the Old Capitol, Secretary of Elder Affairs, Terry White, welcomed Gene and presented him with some Florida souvenirs, including a hat. Gene was even able to induce the Secretary to get on his horse. Governor Jeb Bush welcomed Gene and presented him with a proclamation honoring his historic trip.

Having ridden 12,000 miles from Canada North America to Equadore in South America more than 20 years ago, now at age 67, Glasscock's latest adventure began in September of 2002. While he has less than half the 48 state capitals he estimates two thirds of the distance is still to come.

By Saturday, Gene was headed for Marianna, about 75 miles west of Tallahassee. Along the way, near the town of Sneads, Anne Bujllington (a member of the Jackson County Sheriff's Posse) rode along for about a dozen miles.

Gwilda Byrd (FLwildhorse.org) met Gene at Marianna escorted him (and the FLAhorse.com trailer) to Cottondale, where Gene and his two Tennessee Walkers are spending the rest of the weekend as the guests of Ferran's Ranch. The journey resumes Monday back at the Marianna Court House, headed toward the next destination, Montgomery, Alabama, and state capitol number 26.

Gene with FWHBA members at the Capitol in Tallahassee

• To learn more about Long Rider Gene Glasscock please visit his web site at www.geneglasscock.org
  

Members Jessie & Teri, at the capitol with Gene

Gene, Gwilda & Brian Dillon from SC leaving Tom Brown
park, headed for the capitol.

Cathy talking with 85 year old endurance rider, Bob Richensen

Long Rider Gene Glasscock meeting Governor Bush.

Gene in Texas, with his new Mustang, Tosi! Gene will be adding
another one soon to his string, in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma!

About Red Hills Horse Trials:

Named for the sloping terrain and rich red earth known as the "red hills" of north Florida and south Georgia, the Horse Trials features a challenging cross-country course designed by Captain Mark Phillips, Chef d'Equipe and Technical Advisor for the United States Equestrian Team and a former member of the Great Britain Olympic team.
The cross country course was built by Scotland's Hugh Lochore, and is set in the central area of a 120-acre indigenous plant/horticultural park owned by Tallahassee ecologist and horse enthusiast Colin Phipps. It features a variety of formidable obstacles, including water, banks and ditches, which wind through Phipps' arboretum.
Four dressage rings, the stadium course, stabling, the "Red Hills Avenue of Shops", "Red Hills Food Court", and a variety of exhibits and educational demonstrations are staged on adjoining Northwest Florida Water Management District land known as the Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park.
Red Hills Horse Trials hosted one of only two United States qualifiers for the inaugural 2003 Federation Equestrian Internationale (FEI) Eventing World Cup! Qualifying events lead up to the 2003 World Cup (CIC-W ***) in Pau, France 23-26 October 2003.